Friday, March 8, 2019
Night World : Daughters of Darkness Chapter 12
What happened then was interesting. Mary-Lynnette got to see the sisters do all the things shedmissedearlier in the clearing. All the hissing and the clawed fingers. Just worry the movies.Except that when a vampire hissed, it sounded real. ilk a cat, not standardised a someone imitating a cat. All threegirls jumped up and stood ready to fight.There wasnt some(prenominal)(prenominal) weird grimacing. save hack writer and kestrel were showing teeth that were bulky andbeautifully curved, coming to delicate feline points that indented the lower lip.And something else. Their eyeball changed. Jades silvery-green eyes went even much silvery. kestrelsgolden eyes take ined jewel-yellow, like a hawks. all the same rowan trees eyes had a dark light in them.Oh, boy, note whispered. He was standing beside Jade, thoroughgoing(a) from her to modify. change verbalise, Hi.Dont look at him, Mary-Lynnette told herself. Herheart was pounding wildly and her knees weretrembling. The att raction of cut dischargeicle to antiparticle,she opinion, remembering a line from last yearsphysicslass. besides there was another, shorter namefor it, and no matter what she say to herself, she couldnt remainit out of her mind.Soulmates.Oh, God, I really dont want this. Please, please, Ididnt ask for this. I want to discover a supernova andstudy mini-quasars at the Gamma Ray Observatory. I want to be the one who solves the mystery ofwhere all the dark matter in the cosmea is.I dont want this.It should invite happened to someone like BunnyMarten, someone who washed-out timelonging for romance.The only thing Mary-Lynnette longed for was person to understand to understand the night with you,a distant part ofher mind whispered.And ins tead here she was, stuck with a goofball whose own sisters were frighten of him.It was true. That was wherefore they were standingpoised to fight, making threatening noises. Even Kestrelwas afraid of him.The min Mary-Lynnette realized that, anger washed out the trembling diswhitethorn at bottom her. Whatevershe felt some alter, she wasnt afraid of him.Dont you ever knock? she said and walked toward him. Strode toward him.She had to hand it to her new family. Both Jadeand Kestrel tried to grab her and bring through her from gettingc recur to their fellow. Protecting her. MaryLynnette shook them off.Ash eyed her warily.Oh. You, he said. Unenthusiastically.What argon you doing here?Its my uncles ho persona.Its your aunts house and you werent invited.Ash looked at his sisters. Mary-Lynnette could justsee slender wheels go in his manoeuver. Had they alreadytold about the Night World or not? Of course, if they hadnt, their behavior should be giving somebody adue. Most humans girls didnt hiss.Ash held one finger up. Okay. direct, listenMary-Lynnette kicked him in the shins. She knew it was inappropriate, she knew it was uncalled-for,but she couldnt stanch herself. She just had to.Oh, for Gods sake, Ash said, hoppin g backward.Are you crazy?Yes, she is, play off said, abandoning Jade and stop number forward to take Mary-Lynnettes arm.Everybody k instantaneouslys shes crazy. She cant economic aid it. He backedup, pulling. He was looking atMary-Lynnette as if shed taken all her clothes off and started to dance the mambo.So were Kestrel and Jade. Their eyes had gone ordinary, their teeth retracted. Theyd never seenanyone treat their brother quite this management. And to have a human doing it If the girls had superhuman strength, Ash was undoubtedly even stronger. He could probably flattenMary-Lynnette with one blow.She allay couldnt help it. She wasnt afraid of him, only of herself and the stupid floating feeling in herstomach. The behavior her legs wanted to show up under her.Will somebody just put her not to do that anymore? Ash was saying.Kestrel and Jade looked sideways at Mary-Lynnette. Mary-Lynnette shrugged at them, her tracecoming quickly.She saw that rowan tree was looking at her, too, butnot in the same dumb make uped way. Rowan lookedworried and impress and sorry.Youve met, she said.I should have told you, Mary-Lynnette said. Hecame to our house. He was a fightg mystepmotherabout you and your friends-saying that he studyed to adore them because he was head ofthe family.All three girls looked at Ash with narrow eyes.So you have been around, Kestrel said. Forhow long?Rowan said quietly, What are -you really doinghere?Ash let go of his shin. Can we all mock up down and talk about this like reasonable people?Everyone looked at Mary-Lynnette. She took a deep, calming breath. She still felt as if her entire skinwas electrified, but her heart was slowing down. Yes, she said and worked at looking average so theyd shaft her temporary insanity was over.As he helped her to the couch, trail whispered, I have to tell you, Ive never seen you act so dark-greenbefore. Im proud of you.Even big sisters have to have some off time, Mary-Lynnette thought. She patted him vaguely and sat,feeling tired.Ash settled in a plush-covered chair. Rowan andKestrel sat beside Mary-Lynnette. key out and Jadeshared an ottoman.All right, Ash said. Now can we fast introduce ourselves? I presume thats your brother.Mark, Mary-Lynnette said. Mark, thats Ash.Mark nodded. He and Jade were holding hands. Mary-Lynnette saw Ashs eyes drop to theirintertwined fingers. She couldnt tell anything from his expression.Okay. Now. Ash looked at Rowan. Im here to take you back ingleside, where everyone missesyou violently.Jade breathed, Give me a break.Kestrel said, What if we dont want to be taken? and showed her teeth briefly. Mary-Lynnette didntfind that strange. What she found strange was that Ash didnt return the smile. He didnt look lazy orsardonic or smug right then. He looked like somebody who wants to get a job over with.Rowan said, We cant go home, Ash. Her suspire was slightly irregular, but her chin was high.Well, you have to come home. Because otherwisethere a re passing play to be some fairly drasticconsequences.We knew that when we left, Jade said, with aslittle emotion as Rowan. Her chin was high, too.Well, I dont hypothesise youve really thought itthrough. Ashs voice had an edge.Wed or else die than go back, Jade said.Kestrel glanced at her quickly, one eyebrow raised.Oh, well, fine, Ill just make a note of that, Ash said tightly. whence his expression darkened. Helookedmore determined than Mary-Lynnette would have thought he could look. non in the least like abig blond cat. Like a lanky, elegant pale tiger.Now, listen, he said. There are a few smallthings that you dont understand, and I dont haveany time to play games. So how about we send yourlittle friends home and then we can all have a fam ilytalk.Mary-Lynnettes hands clenched into fists.Mark clutched at Jade, who pushed him awayslightly with her elbow. She was frowning. I look maybeyoud better, she said.Im not going to leave you.Rowan bit her lip. Mark Im not going. Dont try to protect me. Hes not stupid, sooner or afterwards hes going to find out thatwe know about the Night World.Rowan drew in her breath involuntarily. Kestrels expression never changed, but her muscles. tense asif for a fight. Jades eyes went silver. Mary-Lynnette sat very still.They all looked at Ash. Ash looked heavenward.I know you know, he said with deadly patience.Im nerve-racking to get you out, you poor sap, beforeI find out how much you know.The sisters stared. Mary-Lynnette opened hermouth and then shut it again.I thought you didnt like humans, Mark said. I dont I hate them, Ash said with brittle cheer. then(prenominal) why would you want to cut me a break?Because if I cut down you, I have to kill your sister,Ash informed him, with a smile that would have fit in perfectly at the Mad Hatters tea party.So what she kicked you.Ash stopped tossing answers back like footballs.Yeah, well, I may change my mind any minute. No, wait, Jade said. She was sitting with legsfolded under her, staring at her brother fiercely.This is just too weird. Why would you care whathappens to a human?Ash didnt say anything. He looked at the fire key out bitterly.It was Rowan who said softly, Because theyre soulmates.An instant of silence, then everybody started talking explosively.Theyre what? You mean, like what Jade and Iare?Oh, Ash, this is rich. I just wish our father were here to see this.It is not my fault, Mary-Lynnette said. She found everyone turning toward her, and realized thather eyes were full.Rowan leaned across Kestrel to put her hand on Mary-Lynnettes arm.You mean its really true?Mark said, looking from Mary-Lynnette to Ash.Its true. I guess. I dont know what its conjectural to be like, Mary-Lynnette said, concentratingon making the tears go away.Its true, Ash said moodily. It doesnt meanwere going todo anything about it.Oh, youve got that right, Mary-Lynnette said. She was glad to be angry again.So lets all just picking up our toys and go home,Ash said in the general caution of his sisters.Wellforget all about this well just agree that it neverhappened.Rowan was watching him, chill her head slightly.There were tears in her eyes, but she was smiling.I never thought Id hear you say something likethat, she said. Youve changed so much-I cantbelieve it.I cant believe it, either, Ash said bleakly. possibly its a dream.But you have to admit now that humans arentvermin. You couldnt be soulmates with vermin.Yes. Fine. Humans are terrific. We all agree nowlets go home.When we were kids, you were like this, Rowan said. Before you started acting like you werebetter than everyone. I always knew a lot of that was just show. To hide how scared you were. And Ialways knew you didnt really believe a lot of the horriblestuff you said. Somewhere inside, youre stillthat nice little kid, Ash.Ash produced his first really fanfaresmile of theevening. Dont bet on it.Mary-Lynnette had listened to all this feeling shakier and shakier. To conceal it, sh e said to Rowan, Idont specify your aunt thought so.Ash sat up. Hey, where is the old hag, anyway?I need to have a talk with her before we leave.This silence seemed endless.Ash dont you know? Rowan said.Of course he knows. Ten to one, he did it, Kestrel said.What is it that Im supposed to know? Ash said, with every sign of being about to lose hispatience.Your aunts dead, Mark told him.Somebody staked her, Jade added.Ash looked around the room. His expression said he suspected it was a practical joke. Oh, God, MaryLynnette thought numbly, when hes galvanise and bewildered like that he looks so young. Vulnerable.Almost human.Somebody dispatch Aunt Opal. Thats what youre telling me?Are you telling us that you dont know? Kestrel asked. What have you beendoing all night,Ash?Banging my head against a rock, Ash said. Thenlooking for you. When I walked in you weretalking about me.And you didnt run across any livestock tonight?Any-lets say-goats?Ash gave her a long, incredulous look. I fed, if thats what youre asking. not on a goat.Whatdoes thishave to do with Aunt Opal?I think wed better show him, Rowan said.She was the one who got up and lifted the fold ofrug away from the goat. Ash walked around thecouchto see what she was doing. Mary-Lynnette turned to watch his face.He winced. But he controlled it quickly.Rowan said quietly, Look at what was in the goats mouth.Ash picked up the black flower gingerly. An Iris. So?Been to your club of late? Kestrel asked.Ash gave her a weary look. If I had done this, why would I sign it with an iris?Maybe to tell us who did it.I dont have to kill goats to say things, you know. I can talk.Kestrel looked unimpressed. Maybe this way the message has a little more impact.Do I looklike the kind of person who wastes time turning goats into pincushions?No. No, I dont think you did this, Rowan said inher quiet way. But somebodydid-probablywhoever killed Aunt Opal. Weve been trying to traffic pattern outwho.Well, who have we got for s uspects?Everyone looked at Mary-Lynnette. She looked away.Theres one whos pretty prime, Mark said. Hisnames Jeremy Lovett. Hes a real- softened guy, Mary-Lynnette interrupted. If anyonewas going to describe Jeremy, it was going to be her.Ive known him since elementary school, and I would never,ever have believed he could hurt anybody-especially an old lady and ananimal.But his uncle was crazy, Mark said. And Iveheard things about hisfamily-Nobodyknows anything about his family, Mary-Lynnette said. She felt as if she were struggling to keepher head above water, with barbells tied to herwrists and ankles. What was dragging her downwasntMarks suspicion It was her own. The littlevoice in her head that was saying, But he seemed like sucha nice guyand which meant, of course, that he wasnt.Ash was watching her with a brooding, intent expression. What does this Jeremy look like?Something about the way he said it irritated MaryLynnette beyond belief. What do you care?Ash blinked and shifted his gaze. He shrugged minimallyand said with forced blandness, Just curious.Hesvery handsome, Mary-Lynnette said.Gooda way to let out her anger and frustration.And the thing is that he looks very salubrious andsensitive-its not empty good looks. Hes got hair thatssort of the color of ponderosa pinecones andthe most wonderful brown eyes. Hes thin andtan and alittle bit taller than me, because Im normally looking at his mouth.Ash didnt look pleased. I saw somebody vaguelylike that at the gas station -in town. He turned toRowan. You think hes some kind of outlawvampire?Obviously not a made vampire because MaryLynnette has watched him grow up, Rowan said.I was thinking more that he might be renegade lamia.But theres not much use in trying to figure it outfrom here. Tomorrow we can go and see him, and then well know more. Right?Mark nodded. Jade nodded. Mary-Lynnette took adeep breath and nodded.Ash nodded and said, All right, I see why you cant go home until this is solved. So, well figureout whokilled Aunt Opal, and then well take the appropriate action, and then well go home. Got it?His sisters interchange glances. They didnt answer. As she and mark walked back to their house,Mary-Lynnette noticed that Sirius had lifted abovetheeastern horizon. It hung like a jewel, brighterthan she had ever seen it before-much brighter. Itseemedalmost like a miniature sun, flashing with blue and gold and violet rays.She thought the effect must be psychological,,until she remembered that shed exchanged blood withthree vampires.
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